Laura Salerno Owens

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Laura Salerno Owens is a trial lawyer with broad experience representing employers and executives in single and class actions lawsuits. She represents clients in a variety of employment law issues including noncompetition/nonsolicitation agreements and trade secrets, wage and hour disputes, discrimination charges, sexual harassment allegations, and whistleblower claims. She also has experience litigating claims in state and federal court arising under the Equal Pay Act, Family Medical Leave Act, the Oregon Family Leave Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and representing clients before the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Laura is equally adept at advocating for her clients in the courtroom and advising them in the boardroom. She brings a trial lawyer’s perspective to employment disputes, which enables her to quickly get to the heart of legal issues and develop a strategy to solve often-complex problems. A natural “people person,” Laura communicates effectively with business owners, opposing counsel, and judges. One of her clients recently said "Laura provided good counsel in the negotiation of a complicated retirement agreement. Her assistance was done in a timely manner, on budget, with outstanding client service. Her advocacy led to a successful outcome for my case." Another business owner Laura represented in enforcing a noncompetition agreement commented, "We got a speedy resolution that met our objectives. I am so impressed with the help she provided." Laura is also an ardent advocate. As one client put it "When life throws you a curve ball, grab a bat and swing! Thanks Laura for being our bat."

Laura has significant experience in state and federal courts, mediations, and arbitrations. She has first-chair jury trial experience, has taken and defended numerous depositions, and has argued key pretrial and dispositive motions.

Laura has given more than 50 presentations and continuing education courses on various topics including general employment law, anti-discrimination and harassment, social media in the workplace, and the use of independent contractors. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America, named a Rising Star by Oregon Super Lawyers for the past five years, honored by the University of Oregon School of Law as an Outstanding Young Alumnus in 2016, and selected by the Portland Business Journal as a “Forty Under 40” in 2018.

Appointed by federal Judge Anna Brown to represent the jury in the high-profile litigation, United States v. Bundy, when, following the October 2016 Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation trial, a group of media moved the Court to learn the identities of the jurors

Plaintiffs allege that Nike’s corporate culture devalues and demeans its female employees. The suit alleges that for years, Nike has engaged in practices that have perpetuated gender-based pay disparities, such as hiring women at lower salaries than men, discriminating during the performance review process, and promoting women less frequently than male employees doing substantially similar work. The plaintiffs also allege a culture of sexual harassment and gender discrimination at Nike. According to legal scholar Elizabeth Tippett of the University of Oregon, this is the “first big case where we've seen a #MeToo case being litigated in court.”

City of Beaverton Ex Rel. Bill Kirby v. Frehoo, Inc., et al.

The firm represented the City of Beaverton in negotiating an unprecedented settlement with the owners of Stars Cabaret, an adult entertainment venue, relating to the sexual exploitation of a minor. The three-year settlement agreement requires the club to have a zero-tolerance policy regarding sex trafficking and prostitution.

United States v. Bundy, et al.

Federal Judge Anna Brown appointed Markowitz Herbold to represent the jury in the October 2016 Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation trial. After the trial, several media organizations moved the Court to learn the identities of the jurors. Markowitz Herbold developed a legal solution that protected the jurors' privacy, while allowing the press to perform its important news gathering function.

Sports Licensed Division of adidas Group LLC v. Elite Apparel

Represented adidas in Clark County, Nevada District Court in a breach of contract dispute. adidas sued the defendant company for its failure to pay for more than $500,000 worth of merchandise, and sued to collect on a personal guaranty. The defendant counterclaimed for the value of the loss of the business, in the amount of $65,000,000. After a nearly two-week bench trial, the judge ruled in our client’s favor awarding the full prayer, plus attorneys’ fees against both the business and its personal guarantor. The defendant received nothing for its counterclaims.

Laura Salerno Owens will serve as the keynote speaker for OHSU's annual Women in Academic Medicine Conference. This year's conference theme is "Advancing Diversity and Equity: Making it Meaningful to Your Life and Work."
The conference addresses issues of concern that affect women faculty including career advancement, career satisfaction, participation by women on decision-making bodies at OHSU, pay equity, discrimination, and parenting and schedule flexibility issues.

Markowitz Herbold Shareholder Laura Salerno Owens will be part of a panel discussing one's career and the community during the Art of the Possible: Harnessing Innovation and Creativity to Unlock Professional Potential conference in Eugene.

Markowitz Herbold shareholder Laura Salerno Owens will participate in a panel discussion for law students aimed at helping them develop on-the-job as a law clerks, and highlighting the different career paths available to Oregon attorneys.

If your client is sued, what could be at stake? What assets are subject to collection upon entry of a judgment in Oregon state court? This talk, by Markowitz Herbold Shareholder Laura Salerno Owens, will be a brief overview of how collections of judgments work in Oregon and will highlight the property that could be a risk in a lawsuit.

Markowitz Herbold attorney Laura Salerno Owens will be emceeing the annual OWLS Rainmaking Dinner, designed for all lawyers interested in learning strategies and tips for rainmaking from experienced leaders in Portland's legal and business communities.

The Oregon New Lawyers Division is pleased to invite you to its annual SuperSaturday CLE event. The program includes three concurrent tracks of programs including Markowitz Herbold attorneys Laura Salerno Owens and Emily Teplin Fox presenting on Drafting Complaints and Answers.

Markowitz Herbold attorney Laura Salerno Owens will present on how to conduct your own HR audit as well as give an update on Portland and Oregon sick leave laws.
For more information visit DDI Benefits.